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Old 10-31-2018, 11:20 AM   #1
Renegade1LI
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Slide Topper Install

Finally got around to install slide toppers, wanted to get them done before the cold weather. I installed two today & hopefully the other two tomorrow, work always gets in the way. To anyone thinking about doing this yourself it is very straight forward & the existing gutters have a bead slot to receive the awning. saved a lot of time not having to install a new rail, intact the gutter extensions are pliable enough to bend out of the way to feed the awning bead. I installed the first one myself, the second one my son gave me a hand as its much easier & safer to feed it into the rail. Once in the rail the awning can sit on the supports with the slide in & then just insert the support rails & center. I used butyl tape on the back of the brackets & clear siliconed the top & sides after they were installed.
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Old 10-31-2018, 03:02 PM   #2
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Nice Job! Looks Great!!
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Old 10-31-2018, 04:20 PM   #3
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Looks good. You will like having them.
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Old 10-31-2018, 06:25 PM   #4
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This is on my very short wish list. Why did you go with black colored? I would think white would be cooler and more reflective of the heat.

Do they come in other colors?

Where did you purchase yours?

Thanks for any info you can give !
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Old 10-31-2018, 06:50 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by CarWin View Post
This is on my very short wish list. Why did you go with black colored? I would think white would be cooler and more reflective of the heat.

Do they come in other colors?

Where did you purchase yours?

Thanks for any info you can give !
Thanks, I went with the black just so they don't always look dirty, with the air space between the roof I don't think heat will be a problem.
They do come in white, same price, I purchased two from etrailer & two from ebay. When I searched a size for our other camper the price from ebay was a lot less, free shipping & no tax so I bought the other two plus the one for the other camper. The ebay supplier was Tweetys from Texas, both suppliers included the mounting hardware, just had to buy the butyl tape. Check Amazon too, there prices were pretty good, even though they say hardware not included they do come with the hardware. Just make sure when you order that you size them correctly, follow their sizing quide & you should be ok. The first one took an hour & a half, the second one was under an hour, I mounted all the brackets first & then install the awnings.
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Old 11-01-2018, 07:03 AM   #6
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We had ours put on by the dealer before we took delivery of the coach. We had a large travel trailer with two slides and no slide covers. With my fear of heights, I got really tired of trying to climb a ladder to clear debris off the slides before we pulled them in. Best investment I've made in an RV.
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Old 11-01-2018, 05:40 PM   #7
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Looks like a good job. Look at my toppers. See any problems? Screws right thru the fabric into the side of the FW, and holes starting to come thru. Would you believe the factory installed mine. I got to figure how I’m going to approach this to get all mine replaced? I’m still under warranty. Lippert said they installed them incorrectly, now I think I’ll call Keystone. I bet the factory would hire you instantly. Enjoy yours.
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Old 11-01-2018, 05:52 PM   #8
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Ill post a pic tomorrow of how that small screw is supposed to be installed. Per lipperts directions 1" in from edge of fabric, through the rail & awning & should be covered with silicone.
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Old 11-02-2018, 01:31 AM   #9
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Good job. You'll like having them. We've had them on all 3 of our fifth wheels and won't have one without them.
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Old 11-03-2018, 12:44 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Renegade1LI View Post
Thanks, I went with the black just so they don't always look dirty, with the air space between the roof I don't think heat will be a problem.
They do come in white, same price, I purchased two from etrailer & two from ebay. When I searched a size for our other camper the price from ebay was a lot less, free shipping & no tax so I bought the other two plus the one for the other camper. The ebay supplier was Tweetys from Texas, both suppliers included the mounting hardware, just had to buy the butyl tape. Check Amazon too, there prices were pretty good, even though they say hardware not included they do come with the hardware. Just make sure when you order that you size them correctly, follow their sizing quide & you should be ok. The first one took an hour & a half, the second one was under an hour, I mounted all the brackets first & then install the awnings.
What brand toppers did you install?
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Old 11-04-2018, 01:03 PM   #11
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What brand toppers did you install?
Solera from lippert
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Old 11-04-2018, 07:57 PM   #12
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Solera from lippert
Thanks. I'm about to order these but not sure the width. I think you used the existing gutter rails that Keystone installed. On my unit, the slide is 154.5" and the gutter rail they installed is 160". Lippert recommends the topper extend a minimum 2.5" beyond each side of the slide.

Option 1: In order to get that 2.5" I would need a 162" topper (13 1/2') which might be a problem since the gutter rail is only 160". Would it be ok for the topper to extend 1" beyond each end of the gutter and not install the gutter spouts?

Option 2: Order a 156" (13') topper to fit within the existing gutter rail, but then the topper would only extend 3/4" on each side of the slide; less than recommended.

Option 3: Pull the Keystone installed gutter rail off and install a new one that will fit the 162" topper.

Having just completed this install, which way would you go?

Thanks
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Old 11-04-2018, 08:27 PM   #13
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Thanks. I'm about to order these but not sure the width. I think you used the existing gutter rails that Keystone installed. On my unit, the slide is 154.5" and the gutter rail they installed is 160". Lippert recommends the topper extend a minimum 2.5" beyond each side of the slide.

Option 1: In order to get that 2.5" I would need a 162" topper (13 1/2') which might be a problem since the gutter rail is only 160". Would it be ok for the topper to extend 1" beyond the ends of the gutter and not install the gutter spouts?

Option 2: Order a 156" (13') topper to fit within the existing gutter rail, but then the topper would only extend 3/4" on each side of the slide; less than recommended.

Option 3: Pull the Keystone installed gutter rail off and install a new one that will fit the 162" topper.

Which way did you go?

Thanks
The installed rails on our 381 were all longer than needed & I went with the recommended sizes. I would stay with the correct size awning, what you could do is just add an extension to the existing rail or swap them around. Use the longer ones for the shorter slides & then buy one new gutter rail to fit. Or use the supplied rails, I just happen to like the ones with the gutter. As long as you use butyl tape & seal the top either one will work.
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Old 11-04-2018, 09:37 PM   #14
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Are the gutters included with the slide toppers the same as the ones Keystone installed?
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Old 11-05-2018, 06:02 AM   #15
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Are the gutters included with the slide toppers the same as the ones Keystone installed?
No, just a rail, thats why its nice to use the stock ones. You can buy them here,https://www.camperid.com/

They might ne available where you buy the toppers from & could save shipping.
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Old 11-05-2018, 07:34 PM   #16
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Will these work with 3/4" clearance on each end between the outside edge of the slide flange and the bracket arm?

It seems that is what Keystone intended. Slide awnings on this unit were an option and awning rails were installed at the factory. However, the rails are only 160" long; enough for a 156" (13') awning on a 154 1/2" slide room.

If that is not enough clearance, I'll change out the rail.
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Old 11-08-2018, 12:43 AM   #17
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I talked to Lippert, They recommend a minimum 2.5" clearance each side. He also said the rail should be 6" longer than the awning on each side.

I ordered the 13'6" & 8' Lippert Solara and a new rail/gutter. Found them at "RV & Auto Parts"; ordered from them direct instead of through their Amazon store front; $200 less. They were the least expensive and I ordered everything from them; saves a lot on shipping. The 16' rail was $41, but there would have been a $90 shipping fee if I ordered it separately. As it is, they are putting it in with the awnings; one shipping fee for everything.

These people were good to work with.

https://www.rvautoparts.com/
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Old 11-08-2018, 07:44 AM   #18
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For my own information and "piggy-backing" off your experiences (and others): when we traded our single-slide Class A for a 5th wheel we asked the dealer to install slide covers but he told us not a good idea. We went ahead anyway and had trouble with wind making the toppers flap and noisy. We usually ended up tying them to ground anchors. Other campers used plastic pipe as well as small beach balls to tighten the covers. Four years later we purchased another new 5th wheel and optioned out of the covers. We notice in the campgrounds some have and some do not. In your experience (and from others) have these covers and springs (or whatever) improved enough to compensate for wind noise and flapping? Thanks in advance for any input.
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Old 11-08-2018, 01:46 PM   #19
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For my own information and "piggy-backing" off your experiences (and others): when we traded our single-slide Class A for a 5th wheel we asked the dealer to install slide covers but he told us not a good idea. We went ahead anyway and had trouble with wind making the toppers flap and noisy. We usually ended up tying them to ground anchors. Other campers used plastic pipe as well as small beach balls to tighten the covers. Four years later we purchased another new 5th wheel and optioned out of the covers. We notice in the campgrounds some have and some do not. In your experience (and from others) have these covers and springs (or whatever) improved enough to compensate for wind noise and flapping? Thanks in advance for any input.
What I noticed the first time I installed them is that you can tighten them up a little. In fact when I installed these I wound the spring one more revolution & as you can see they are taught. Same with my last camper as they stretched I simply disconnected one side at a time & tightened up a little & they never flopped or made noise. I have never seen or read this anywhere I just noticed all the campers with lose or saggy toppers & once you install them you will see each side has its own spring & its as simple as rotating the arm, just dont let go, its like a small engine recoil.
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Old 11-10-2018, 11:17 PM   #20
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I talked to Lippert, said the rail should be 6" longer than the awning on each side.
Bad information; The rails Lippert includes with the awnings are the same length as the topper; nothing extra.

PS: I ordered the stuff from RV & Auto parts (good price) on Wed and the truck pulled up with them on Fri.
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